EU and the Republic of the Marshall Islands Sign Visa Waiver Agreement

29/06/2016 - 12:00

News stories

The EU and the Republic of the Marshall Islands signed a short-stay visa waiver Agreement in Geneva, Switzerland last week Monday.

The new visa regime provides for visa-free travel for EU citizens when travelling to the territory of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and for citizens of the Republic of the Marshall Islands when travelling to the EU for a period of stay of 90 days in any 180-day period.

The agreement will encourage people-to-people contacts, boost tourism, and invigorate business between the EU and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

In order to benefit from visa-free travel, citizens from the EU and the Republic of the Marshall Islands must be in possession of a valid ordinary, diplomatic, service/official or special passport.

The visa-free travel applies to all categories of persons and for any kind of purposes of travel (for instance tourism, cultural visits, scientific activities, family visits, business etc.), except to persons travelling for the purpose of carrying out a paid activity.

The Republic of the Marshall Islands joins Republic of Vanuatu, Samoa, Kingdom of Tonga, Republic of Palau, The Republic of Kiribati and Tuvalu for the visa waiver Agreement with the EU.

Ireland and the United Kingdom will not be subject to the application of the Agreement, in accordance with the protocols annexed to the EU treaties. The visa regime to these member states remains subject to their national legislation